talkmagic.co.uk

I have rarely in my several years of studying magic actually had the opportunity to see many other people perform and therefore am always keen to watch when given the opportunity.
A few hours ago me and my beautiful assistant went to a local 'People's day' run by our local council where, to my surprise, a magican was billed to play in one of the tents.
So I stood at the back of the tent as the man walked on the stage with a few children sitting eagerly at the front. He was dressed as a half hearted eastern mystic I suppose (jeans, black shirt, waistcoat and turban) and preceded to give a brief talk about the origins of magic.
Here are a few things I didn't know

Magic is years and years old
In victorian ages the king and queen watched magic
Princess Diana used a soothsayer

Then he proudly announced that all we are about to see was mearly illusion. The indian inspired music then piped through the speakers and the 'magician' started walking nonchaunlantly around the stage with a hollow tube displaying it unenthusiastic to the crowd.
A pot of very fake, half folded flowers was pulled out but whilst displaying the pot he showed the underside completely showing the gimmick.

He then moved on to pouring milk into a cup which then produced a dry white silk but failed to show the cup empty. All this done with no patter left the audience wondering what the effect was meant to be.

I walked off in disgust at this point thinking that all the audience there would leave with such a bad opinion of something I love so much.

From the props on this guys table it was all self working which leaves me thinking why he does magic? Now self working isn't bad in itself but also lacking any charisma or showmanship it begs the question why do this?

that sounds awful. When you see a bad magician, it just makes you feel like magic lost 15 more fans or whatever. It's sad that these people manage to work. If you dont actually perform effects that are use skill, and dont present the magic correctly, I dont consider you a magician.

Yikes. Tricksters like the one described here really do make me angry. Either he's very deluded or just doesn't care what people think of his act because I can't imagine he'd have gained much performing experience without somebody being told that his 'act' was substandard.

Perhaps if this was somebody very new to the field it might be permissible. Any idea whether this was someone who touted himself as an experienced professional? Or just someone who's read a book and thought he'd give it a go?

In any event patronising 'patter', tricks lacking in motivation, sloppy performance... yeesh.

HenryHoudini wrote:If you dont actually perform effects that are use skill, and dont present the magic correctly, I dont consider you a magician.

Fair enough about the second comment, but if by "skill" you mean "technical ability" I would have to disagree with you there.

Cardza wrote:Yikes. Tricksters like the one described here really do make me angry. Either he's very deluded or just doesn't care what people think of his act because I can't imagine he'd have gained much performing experience without somebody being told that his 'act' was substandard.

Perhaps if this was somebody very new to the field it might be permissible. Any idea whether this was someone who touted himself as an experienced professional? Or just someone who's read a book and thought he'd give it a go?

In any event patronising 'patter', tricks lacking in motivation, sloppy performance... yeesh.

HenryHoudini wrote:If you dont actually perform effects that are use skill, and dont present the magic correctly, I dont consider you a magician.

Fair enough about the second comment, but if by "skill" you mean "technical ability" I would have to disagree with you there.

I mean if they cant do anything, and the props do the magic.

There's nothing inherently wrong in using gimmicks and special props to do your magic. If there were, most illusionists would be out of a job.

The real problem is that this person apparently did a lousy job of entertaining the audience. Half-hearted presentation and accidentally revealing the workings don't make for a magical experience.

what I mean is the gimmicks, and no showmanship. That means he isnt doing magic hes playing with toys

but also lacking any charisma or showmanship it begs the question why do this?

Sadly, the answer is - because he can!

He probably thinks that he's good and he's most probably either very cheap or doing for free.

Self workers are no problem but lack of respect for his audience in not preparing properly to baffle, bemuse and entertain is unforgivable. No wonder magic is seen as second rate entertainment at times….

greedoniz wrote:dressed as a half hearted eastern mystic I suppose (jeans, black shirt, waistcoat and turban?

Ye gods, somebody have words with him soon, very soon!

I'm not a fan of gimmicks. I only own a Svengali.

However, they can create greay magic if presented properly.

I think what Henry is trying to say is that he doesn't consider a person who has just bought a prop, gone through it a few times, and decided to take it and perform it, a magician. In which I agree. If you simply buy a gimmick, and go and perform it straight away, with no practice or thought into presentation, you are NOT a magician. Your a lazy sod! Even gimmicks need hours practice to make a good show!

Yes it was truly terrible. The man was lucky that I am a country boy now stuck in the city as I did consider going home and getting my shotgun.

And as I originally stated I have no issues with someone relying on selfworkers but the lack of any kind of showmanship,buggering up some of the selfworkers and not properly explaining (either audiably or visually) what the effect was meant to be is not really an act at all.

Finally I forgot to add that he did have an assistant who was about 8 years old and she looked bemused and bored as he wandered around and around the plastic table holding a hollow tube aloft.

Oooh boy I can not tell you how truly bad it was. I was embarrassed to be a magician today.

Blimey he must have been bad, Greedo has seen me perform in the past and never said owt about that so some one a lot worse then me.

You he would have lost me when he came out as a mystic.

The point of a gimmick is to add that extra bite to a trick not to be the trick.

Markdini wrote:Blimey he must have been bad, Greedo has seen me perform in the past and never said owt about that so some one a lot worse then me.

You he would have lost me when he came out as a mystic.

Markdini, this guy was not even close to being adept at any form of the art of magic where as you have (I'm gonna get urban here so hold onto your hats) the skillz that pay da billz.
Do I really have to shout Le Paul Spread?

Why thank you kind sir. If you could shout my Heirloom wallet routine I would be most greatful. And my handling of entourage?

Greedo has a very nice paper clip monte by the way. Speaking of which I shall see you saturday.

Now it would be interesting to know if this guy is a memeber here or another forum and he could explain what went wrong.

greedoniz, I believe that people can generally tell quality when they see it, and I reckon that the audience may just have been put off rubbish magicians rather than magic itself. The old 'flowers from an empty vase' ploy just doesn't cut it any more.
The man you saw is (from the sounds of it) unlikely to get any more work from it, maybe won't get the gig next year and will be reaping what he sows. Instead of getting annoyed, revel in the smugness of knowing that you are so much better. It seems to help.

DT